Apparatus for the production of high-frequency oscillating currents.



A. A. JAHNKE. APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH FREQUENCY OSGILLATING GURRENTS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11,1912.

1 ,1 1 5,823. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

A. A. JAHNKE. APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUUTION OE HIGH FREQUENCY OSGILLATING CURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1912. 1,1 1 5,823. Patented Nov. 3, 1914. v

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. A. JAHNKE. APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH FREQUENCY OSOILLATING OURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11,1912.

1 1 1 5 823, Patented Nov. 3, 19 14,

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

A. A. JAHNKE.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH FREQUENCY OSGILLATING OURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE'll, 1912.

1,115,823. PatentedN0v.3,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

" TE STATEs- PATE T orricu.

A. JAnnxnor ro'm'r RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR r NATIONAL winnt'nss TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH co'iironArion or ARIZONA;

00., OF-SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, 'A

ArrAaAras 1'03 'rnn mamas; Osman-mascara oscILLA'rINe cun'rinnrs.

specificaticn of llett'ers Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Application filed June 11, 1912. Serial No. 703,032.

high frequency oscillating currents from a direct current supply; said apparatus becapable of maintaining and dischargingcontinuous and uniform undamped oscillations of very high frequency and force.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically starting the oscillations and maintaining the uniformity and persistency of the same by regulating and keeping'the electrodes oftheapparatus at the proper distance, so that if for any reason the oscillations are broken between the electrodes, which maybe caused by too much current, the wasting away of the electrodes, or a spark gap being toolarge, etc. the oscillations are started agaim'as herein specified. v

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which v Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View showing the different apparatus employed in the wireless telephone system. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my apparatus showing the units employed. Flg. 3 is a plan view of same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 5 is a perspective and Fig. (i-is a section of a carbon electrode. Fig. 7 is another form of carbon. 1

1 -is the formation of a spark gap apparatus subs tially parallel opposed faces, submerged in an imperfectly conducting liquid, andactingto constantl change theposltion struct an apparatus for the production of The'essention-al feature of this apparatus haviiggfiinterspaced terminal electrodes with.

The apparatus consists of a container and mean's therein for the production of an electric spark discharge, which 'is mainitained between parallel electrode faces which are submerged in an imperfectly conductingliquid medium in such a manner that constant circulation of the medium takes place around the electrodes. This medium is of such a nature that when heat- :ed its resistance increases, thereby causing ,the point of sparking betweenv the electrodes to? continually change,'caus1ng the surfaces Iofthe electrodes to burn evenly so as to pro- :duce a constant and uniform distance between the surfaces of the electrodes.

In'Fig. 1 of the drawings I-have shown the connection and position of my apparatus in relation to the other instruments used in a wireless telephone system, in which A is-a direct current generator, connected in series with 'a solenoid magnet B, a-choke coil 0, the high'fre'quency oscillators and a choke coil E, and a variable resistance G,

which connects with the negative pole of the generator A, thus completing the direct current supply circuit. i'

- The primar oscillating circuit consists of a condenser l in series with the primary coil of a high frequency transformer, connected across the terminals of the oscillators; said oscillating circuit bein shown by heavy lines, to distinguish it rom the current supply circuit, in which the solenoid magnet is placed.

As shown in the present drawings, 1 is a vertically disposed cylinder, provided with a bottom 2, and a base flange 3. The outside of the cylinder is provided with a water-jacket 4. The cylinder is provided 17 is ascrew cap adapted to close the lower end of the cylinder projection 15.

z This is provided with two metal tubes as 19 and 20, through-which a circulating coolhigher degree than carbon electrodes, which isflof great importance for the stability and uniformity of the spark. Likewise, it is often advantageous to use electrodes of metal, as they are better heat conductors, and therefore quickly lead off heat from the spark. With this object in view, I- have provided the hollow metal cylinder 12 as the positive electrode. The circulation of the cooling liquid within'the hollowmetal electrode 12 may be efl'ected by connecting the tube 19 with a-non-conducting water supply pipe 21. The water discharges from the end of the tube 1 9, as shown in Fig. 4, direct against the head of. the electrode, or the sparking surface, carrying away anyexcess heat that may be generated there. The waterdischarges from the hollow electrode through pipe 20, which in turn connects at 23 with the water-jacket of the cyhnder, air-- culates throu h this to cool the liquid within the cylin er, and discharges through a pipe 24, which connects with a manifold or discharge pipe 25, which will conduct the Waste water away fromithe apparatus. The cylinder2, is filled with an' imperfectl conducting liquid in which'the electrodes are entirely submerged. The sparkin jumping from one electrode to another, will cause a heating of the liquid at that" point. The

liquid being of a nature which, when heatedf.

produces a greater resistance than, when cooled, will cause the next discharge to seek the point of least resistancebetween the two electrodes, which will be the point where the liquid is most -cool thereby causing the spark to constantly. 'ft and change" its.po-- sition. Y i

Byconstantly changing 1 the sparking point, ;the.carb0n does not pit and is burne or wasted ve evenlyland the frequency of oscillation as well as the volume of; electric other station.

energy, is persistent and uniform.

The transmitter may be connected-in series with the ound circuit of the secondary of the hi a portion thereof and will, when spoken articulated sound in the receiver at some It can thus be seen that it is very. nec'essary in an apparatus of thisnature to produce oscillations of high frequency and reg-' ularity. If this frequency and regularityis .35 carrying a plura clutch-carrying plate 35 is supported on" frequency transformer, or it may be-blji god-across said secondary or by pitting, etc., it will tend to render vocal or other sounds which are dependent upon such regularity, confused and indistinct.

In the apparatus shown in the drawings, I employ three units connected in series and adapted to be operated in. unison; the separate spark 'aps of the set being controlled automatical y by the following mechanism:

B is a solenoid ma et connectedin series with the main circuit, as already described, which energizes an armature 27 connected to a lever 28 whichis pivoted at 29 to a suitable frame as 30, mounted on the main base plate. The opposite end of the. lever is forked, as shown in the plan view of the drawings, and adapted to engage with a.

plate 31 having standards 32, which are provided with shoulders 33, and guide extensions 34, which lproject through a plate ity of clutches 36. The

standards 37 mountedon the base plate and is adapted to be raised or lowered, whichever t e case may be, :bein guided byextensions 37 on the standar s.-

The carbon-carryin rod 8 projects through the insulating ushing 7 in a perforated cover of the cylinder, extending'up-v wardly a. considerable distanc'eand passesthrough plate 31,; clutch 36 and plate 35.

Slidable on' the rod'is a cone 38 engageable with a set of arms 39 pivoted at 40 m'the clutch. Interpos'ed between the plate- 35 and the cone:38 is a-helical spring 40; The carbon-carrying rod is insulated from the above mechanism by separating the rod 8 at 41 and placing afiber connection between the two ends.

The operation of this part of the mecha-' nism willjbeas follows: The solenoidmagnet when energized willflattract the arma+ ture. 29, which being "connected with the" lever- 28 will rock this on its pivot 29 and 8 cause the o posite'end of the lever to engage with f the p ate '35 and lift this a pro-determined distance. The raising of the late 35 causes'the springs to' compress an forces the-cones 38 up between the arms, spreadmg these so as toJgrip the rods. By thetime the-rods have been ped b the clutches the shoulder 33 of the y by an adjustable stop 42"mounted on the parts of the electrode elevating mechanism standards 32 will 'en- 'ga ethe plate 35and raise the plate, clutches an f'carbon-carrying rods, thus separating the electrodes to produce-the spark gap; The distanceor' space between the electrodes mnbe regulated to produce-the best result e difierent when the magnet becomes energized, I have connected the lever with a dash-pot as 43,

of any suitable or well-known construction.

To return the parts to inoperative position, I have provided a spring 44 connected to the lever, which will retract the lever and allow the plate 31 to return, relieving the tension on the springs and allowing the cones to retract, which causes the clutch arms to release the rods and ermit the electrodes tore-seat and adjust t emselves. By employing several units, the voltage of the current can) be increased in proportion to the resistance produced by increasing the number of units, thereby producing a high pressure current discharge through the oscillation circuit.

In operation it is frequently found that certain irregularities in oscillations are caused by undesirable movements of the liquid in which electrodes are submerged.

I have found that this may be overcome by perforating or subdividing the carbon electrodes so as to allow a free flow of the li uid in the direction of the axis of the car on. This may be effected byperforating the face of the carbons with one or more holes which may lead out through the sides of the carbon to insure a circulation of the liquid,- or by a number of small independent carbons.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the openings or passages are shown in the form of slots 47 which may cross each other and have their lower ends diverging as at 48. It will be understood that thesev carbons may be made in various forms to attain the desired. result and provide for a smooth movement of'the liquid. Fig. 7 shows the carbon in the form of independent pencils with intermediate spaces.

Having thus described my invention,'what I claim and desire to ent is- 1. A spark gap apparatus having electrodes with opposed terminal faces parallel with each other, the terminal face of each electrode being substantially in ,a single plane and of large'area to'permit the shifting of the spark parallel with the'planes of the faces without variation in its length and frequency, means for automatically sepa rating and spacin the electrodes to form the spark gap, an an imperfectly conducting 11 uid in which the electrodes are submerge the resistance of which liquid increases as its temperature rises whereby as the s ark increases the temperature of the liquid it is caused to shift from place to place between the terminal faces.

2. A spark gap apparatus having electrodes with opposed terminal faces parallel with each other, the terminal face of each electrode being substantially in a single plane and of large area to permit the shiftsecure by Letters Pal ing of the. spark parallel with the planes of the faces without variation in its length and frequency, one of said electrodes being of carbon and the other of said electrodes being of metal and having an internal chamber for the circulation of a cooling medium, means for circulating a cooling medium through said last mentioned electrode, and an imperfectly conducting liquid in which the electrodes are submerged, the resistance of which liquid increases as its temperature rises, whereby as the spark increases the temerature of the liquid it is caused to shift rom place to place between the terminal faces.

'3. A spark gap apparatus having electrodes submerged in an imperfectly conducting liquid, said electrodes having parallel opposed surfaces, one of said electrodes having its surface sub-divided, said subdivisions having their surfaces forming the face of the electrode opposed and equidistant from the surface of the other electrode.

4. An oscillatory circuit spark gap apparatus including opposed interspaced circuit terminal electrodes having opposed surfaces substantially parallel, a container in which said electrodes are removably mounted, a liquid cooling and circulating system connecting with said container within which the electrodes are submerged, means for starting the oscillations and adjusting and spacing the electrodes with relation to each other,

said meansincluding clamping arms adapt-- ed to engage and lift one of the electrodes, a solenoid magnet capable of being energized, a lever connected with the core of said solenoid and means actuated thereby, adapted to engageand lift the movable electrode.

5. An oscillatory circuit spark gap apparatus including-opposed interspaced circuit terminal electrodes with substantially paral- .lel opposed surfaces, a chamber containing an imperfectly conducting liquidwithin which said electrodes are sub'mer ed, a rod movable in line w-ith'the axes o the electrodes and by which one of said electrodes is carried, clamping arms and a cone by which witnesses.

. ALBERT A. J AHNKE.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. HERRING, Gannvmvn S.-DONELIN. 

